Blast in Kabul ahead of key assembly on future of US troops in Afghanistan

Sun Nov 17 00:23:28 EST 2013

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Afghan president Hamid Karzai has invited the Taliban to attend talks about the future of US troops in the country.

Reuters: Jason Reed. File.

A suicide bomber rammed his car into an Afghan army vehicle providing security for a compound where Afghanistan's political and tribal elites are due to gather next week to debate a vital security pact with the United States.

The attack took place just hours after Afghan president Hamid Karzai called on the Taliban to take part in the Loya Jirga assembly, which convenes on Thursday to decide whether to allow some US troops to stay in Afghanistan after 2014.

The blast occurred shortly after 3:00pm local time, less than 100 metres from a huge tent where more than 2,000 prominent Afghans are due to gather, a witness said.

"One of our soldiers was martyred and three wounded when a suicide bomber in a car rammed our Humvee," said general Zahir Azimi, an Afghan defence ministry spokesman.

No-one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

A man fleeing the bombing, Mohammad Amin, looked dazed and was covered in blood and dust as he described seeing a White Corolla vehicle speed towards a police checkpoint and explode.

Mr Amin said he was standing across the street from the explosion, behind his parked car when the blast occurred.

"Thank God my car protected me because it was so close. My ears are still ringing," he said.

A Reuters reporter saw at least six wounded people, as well as a large unchecked fire and numerous smashed cars.

A Kabul police spokesman, Hashmat Stanekzai, said there were at least 15 dead and wounded as a result of the attack, but could not immediately provide more detail.

National assembly a year in the making

A loya jirga is a traditional Afghan meeting convened to debate matters of national importance and includes thousands of tribal elders, politicians and other elites.

For almost a year, Washington and Kabul have been seeking to conclude a Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA) that will help determine how many US soldiers and bases remain in Afghanistan after most foreign combat troops exit by the end of next year.

The lack of agreement has raised the prospect that Washington may yet pull out all of its troops next year unless differences are ironed out.

Senior US and NATO officials said last month they were confident Afghanistan's elders and parliament would back the deal allowing American troops to stay there after 2014.

Two years ago, the United States ended its military mission in Iraq with a similar "zero option" outcome after the failure of talks with Baghdad.

Earlier on Saturday, Mr Karzai called on the Taliban, who have been waging an insurgency against his government and US-led forces for over a decade, to put down their guns and participate in the assembly.

"We hope by all means that they participate in the loya jirga,"said Mr Karzai, who is keen to find a negotiated political solution to years of fighting with the Taliban.

"They are our countrymen and they have the right to be part of such meetings.

"I once again invite them to please come and participate in the people's national meeting."